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Monday, February 25, 2008

The list of 599 additives approved by the US Government for use in the manufacture of cigarettes is something every smoker should see. Submitted by the five major American cigarette companies to the Dept. of Health and Human Services in April of 1994, this list of ingredients had long been kept a secret.

Tobacco companies reporting this information were:

American Tobacco Company

Brown and Williamson

Liggett Group, Inc.

Philip Morris Inc.

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

While these ingredients are approved as additives for foods, they were not tested by burning them, and it is the burning of many of these substances which changes their properties, often for the worse. Over 4000 chemical compounds are created by burning a cigarette, many of which are toxic and/or carcinogenic. Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanide and ammonia are all present in cigarette smoke. Forty-three known carcinogens are in mainstream smoke, sidestream smoke, or both.

It's chilling to think about not only how smokers poison themselves, but what others are exposed to by breathing in the secondhand smoke. The next time you're missing your old buddy, the cigarette, take a good long look at this list and see them for what they are: a delivery system for toxic chemicals and carcinogens.

Cigarettes offer people only a multitude of smoking-related diseases and ultimately death.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Animal feed in USA is regulated by FDA?s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM)

A feed ingredient is a component part or constituent or any combination/mixture added to and comprising of the feed. Feed ingredients might include grains, milling byproducts, added vitamins, minerals, fats/oils, and other nutritional and energy sources. Animal feeds provide a practical outlet for plant and animal byproducts not suitable for human consumption.

We are putting lot of emphasis on animal feed because of its Halal status and USDA has identified the first BSE case in a Washington state dairy cow in December 2003.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) is common name for mad cow disease. Although the main cause of disease is not known but it is due to the infectious form of protein, prions found in BSE infected cows. It is a fetal disease affecting the nervous system of adult cows. This disease could be transfer to other cows if the animal feed is made from the infected part of the animals. Since 1997, FDA has banned the use of animal brain and spinal cord material in animal feed giving to cattle, sheep and goats. FDA is considering this ban to chicken feed and is outlawing the use of cattle blood in livestock feed, use of cow brain, other part in dietary supplements. It is now considering new restrictions of downer cattle or mechanically separated beef in canned soups and frozen pizza.

Among FDA's actions are new rules for cattle feed that:

Prohibit mammalian blood and blood products from being fed to cattle or other ruminant animals.

Ban chicken waste from livestock feed.

Ban the use of uneaten meat and other scraps from large restaurants from being recycled into cattle feed.

Require factories that make both livestock feed and feed for other animals that use bovine ingredients to have separate production lines to guard against accidental contamination.

Cattle and Sheep Feed composition:

The feed for cattle & sheep varies in composition. Fresh feeds are the feeds that are grazed or fed as fresh cut.

A typical animal feed is made of the following:

Feed names:

Dry matter,

Crude Protein

Crude, Acid Detergent and Neutral Detergent Fibers

Minerals

Vitamins

Energy

A typical composition of feeds for cattle and sheep obtained from the following materials:

Poultry feeds are designed to contain all protein, Energy, Vitamins and other nutrients. Poultry feed is also available with several type of medications to prevent diseases. A typical poultry feed consists of following ingredients:

Ground Yellow Corn

Wheat middling

Soy (44% CP)

Corn Gluten Meal

Barley

Oats

Wheat

Meat & Bone (50% CP)

Alfalfa meal (dehydrated)

Fat

There are a lot of different labels applied to beef these days, so let's go through what they mean under rules set by the US Department of Agriculture.

Organic: The organic label does apply to beef and has the backing of a legal standard and a certification system. In the case of beef, organic means that the animal (1) has undergone no genetic modification; (2) was fed grain that was not genetically modified and was free of chemical pesticides, fertilizers, animal byproducts and other adulterants; (3) was not treated with antibiotics, growth hormones, or chemical pesticides. Animals raised for organic meat must also have access to the outdoors, though that doesn't necessarily mean that they spend the majority of their time roaming the open grasslands.

Free Range: This label is still mostly ungoverned by a legal standard and shouldn't be relied on to determine whether the cow actually spent most of its time on the open plains eating grass or that it ate any particular type of feed. "Free Range" is sometimes also called "free roaming."

Natural This is another mostly meaningless term. As the USDA puts it: "All fresh meat qualifies as natural." Meat labeled "natural" (1) cannot contain any artificial flavor or flavoring, coloring ingredient, chemical preservative, or any other artificial or synthetic ingredient; and (2) can only be minimally processed (ground, for example). The USDA requires that meat packages labeled "natural" also include a statement clarifying the use of the term (such as "no added coloring"). In any event, animal byproducts are not specifically prohibited in the feed of cows raised for "natural" beef (though some beef labeled natural may indeed be free of animal byproducts).

Grass Fed: You'd think that any package of beef labeled "Grass Fed" would mean that the cow ate only grass. But given that all cows eat grass at least in the early stages of their lives, shady dealers could legally apply the "Grass Fed" label to beef from normal feed-lot cattle. This makes it necessary for you to ensure the label says "100% Grass Fed," "Grass Fed Only" or something similar that does not leave any loopholes. Beef raised only on grass may be slightly less tender than "normal" beef, but it has less overall fat, less saturated fat, higher vitamin A content, and more of the omega-3 fatty acids that help maintain healthy cells in your body. Beef that is 100% grass-fed may or may not be organic?all requirements under the organic standard would still have to be met for "100% grass fed" beef to be labeled organic.

No Antibiotics/No Hormones ? Beef with either of these labels must be from a cow that was raised without the use of antibiotics or synthetic hormones over its entire lifetime. While both of these characteristics are desirable in your package of beef, neither has any bearing on BSE.

No Animal Byproducts ? The regulations behind this label are not as strong as for the organic standard, but it's reasonable to assume that the label means what it says, that no animal byproducts were used in the feed of the cow(s).

Irradiation ? Meat that has been irradiated to reduce bacteria levels must be labeled "Treated by Irradiation" or "Treated with Radiation." However, the irradiation levels used on beef do not deactivate the BSE disease agent.

Prime, Choice, and Select ? These USDA grades are a subjective measure of quality and imply nothing about how the cow was raised or whether it's free of BSE (Grinning Planet).

Halal animal Feed:

The first step in the Halal animal feed is that the cattle, goats, sheep and poultry were not treated with growth hormones. The animals and poultry have been feed only vegetarian feed, organic feed (if it is made with plant based ingredients) and Amish feed (if it is made with plant derived ingredients).

Although certified organic feeds consist of no animal derived ingredients but some organic feeds are made of fish meal and crab meal. Crab meal is not acceptable to Hanafi Muslims because it is not as fish.

The problem with Amish feed is there is no regulation and no supervision of the Amish feeds but the main thing is that it should be made with vegetable based ingredients.

Looking at the above composition of cattle, sheep and poultry feeds, Muslims in the Zabiha meat and the Halal certification business should pay more attention to animal feeds

THE CHEMISTRY OF WINE VINEGAR AND ITS RELATION WITH FIQAH

It is necessary to familiarize the chemistry of wine making before discussing the chemistry of wine vinegar. Wine making started about 3000-4000 B.C and is mostly made from fermented grapes, but wine is also made from other fruits, and grain such as rice. Influence of raw material in wine making is very important because it needs high sugar content of 10-24% and low acidity of 0.5 to 1.5% as Tartaric acid. Higher acidity inhibits the yeast fermentation. Alcoholic fermentation occurs through enzymes produced by yeast Saccharomyces cerevisia on the sugar of the Must (Must refers to crushed grapes including juice, seeds and skin) and this alcoholic fermentation ( proceeds with 20 enzyme protein, 3 to 8 organic cofactors and several inorganic cofactors) results in:

The yeast fermentation is followed by lactic acid fermentation of malic acid, present in grape. This is called Malolactic fermentation in which malic acid is converted by lactic acid bacteria into: Lactic Acid, Carbon Dioxide

The lactic acid bacteria also change the fruit flavor of wine and add some flavor compound from their metabolism. But majority of wine flavor comes from alcoholic fermentation and wine flavor is continued to change during storage.

Polyphenols contribute the bitter taste of the wine and astringent mouth feel of wine, characteristic aromas are related to wine maturation. Wine is the raw material for wine vinegar.

Presently Vinegar is produced from a wide variety of substances but the basic requirement is that, those substances should have sufficient amount of alcohol and a satisfactory level of flavoring. The conversion of alcohol to acetic acid by acetobacter bacteria is as follows:

The acetobacter bacteria act only on alcohol content of wine, not on other components of wine according to literature. Organic chemistry of wine vinegar and other literature indicate that the coloring and flavoring of wine vinegar are the characteristic of the wine from which the particular wine vinegar is made. From this we can derive the following equation for wine vinegar:

So the Acetobacter bacteria do not act on wine flavors and wine colors during the production of wine vinegar. The same flavors and colors are present in wine vinegar and they are not subjected to any chemical reactions during the process. So chemically they remain the same in wine vinegar. There is no research or literature found to suggest that the wine flavors and wine color are subject to Tabdeele Mahaya (chemical change to new products) in wine vinegar production.

It means some part of Haram wine is present in wine vinegar. Besides the above, the processing of wine to wine vinegar is not 100%. Some minute amount of wine is also left over in wine vinegar. According to a Hadith small portion of intoxicant is also Haram as large portion. Wine vinegar is not Halal according to Imam Shafi but it is considered clean according Imam Abu Hanifa (according to Sahee Muslim). According to Anus Bin Malik RA, Prophet Mohammed Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallum did not give permission to make vinegar from wine (Hadith from Sahee Muslim).

We recommend Muslim consumers to avoid using any wine vinegar based on the above Hadith and scientific facts.

i had contacted tylenol and this is the response they gave me i do not have your email address so i will just cut and paste their email

Dear Safya,

Thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding TYLENOL* products.

Both the glycerin and magnesium stearate in our TYLENOL* products are derived from bovine tallow. Any gelatin is derived from beef or pork. Please be assured that your comments will be shared with our Marketing Team.

Should you require further information, please e-mail us again or call the Information Centre at: 1 800 265-7323.

Consumer stated: I heard news that all the Tylenol products have pork or beef derivitives. For religious reason I am not allowed to eat pork or beef. Since Tylenol is the pain reliever I use the most I was wondering if it was possible to tell me if there are any pork or beef derivitives in any of the Tylenol products.

Some of the UK's best-selling chocolate bars, such as Mars and Twix, will no longer be suitable for vegetarians.

Also affecting brands such as Snickers and Maltesers, owner Masterfoods said it had started to use animal product rennet to make its chocolate products.

Masterfoods said the change was due to it switching the sourcing of its ingredients and the admission was a "principled decision" on its part.

The Vegetarian Society said the company's move was "incomprehensible"

'Extremely disappointed'

Masterfoods said it had started using rennet from 1 May and non-affected products had a "best before date" up to 1 October.

Masterfoods' decision to use non-vegetarian whey is a backward step

Vegetarian Society

Rennet, a chemical sourced from calves' stomachs, is used in the production of whey.

It will now also be found in Bounty, Minstrels and Milky Way products, and the ice cream versions of all Masterfoods' bars.

"If the customer is an extremely strict vegetarian, then we are sorry the products are no longer suitable, but a less strict vegetarian should enjoy our chocolate," said Paul Goalby, corporate affairs manager for Masterfoods.

The Vegetarian Society said it was "extremely disappointed".

"At a time when more and more consumers are concerned about the provenance of their food, Masterfoods' decision to use non-vegetarian whey is a backward step," it said in a statement.

"Mars products are very popular with young people and many will be shocked to discover that their manufacture now relies on the extraction of rennet from the stomach lining of young calves," it added.

(July 28, 2002) Happy Days Goat Dairy of Salmon Arm, British Columbia, is bringing its Halal certified products to the Alberta and BC markets. The following products manufactured by the company have been certified Halal by the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA):

Goat Milk Yogurt, 500 g container (plain)

Goat Milk Yogurt, 500 g container (strawberry)

Light Goat Milk Ice Cream, 1 liter container (vanilla)

Light Goat Milk Ice Cream, 1 liter container (strawberry)

The above-mentioned products display the IFANCA Halal symbol (a crescent with the letter 'M') on the labels. The Halal yogurt and ice cream products are available at Overwaitea/SaveOn Foods (in the health food section), Choices, and Caper's. These products are among the first Halal certified non-meat products to be manufactured and sold in Canada. (Web posted 07.28.02 @ 6.21 pm)>> Happy Days Goat Dairy: (250) 832-0209 | Web: goatcheesecanada.com>> IFANCA: (773) 283-3708 | Web: ifanca.org

(July 21, 2002) eat-halal.com has learned that most No Name brand English Muffins contain l-cysteine. As reported earlier, l-cysteine is Haram if it is derived from human hair. eat-halal.com is currently looking into the matter and for the time being, it is suggested that the product be avoided. L-cysteine is often used in bakery products and could be made from human hair, chicken/duck feathers and synthetic materials. No Name products are sold exclusively at supermarkets owned by grocery giant Loblaw Companies Limited.>> No Name Customer Service: (800) 296-2332 | Web: loblaw.com

(July 14, 2002) eat-halal.com has discovered that Colgate Dental Gum contains gelatin. The presence of gealtin is listed on the package, however, it is often easily overlooked due to small print. Other brands of dental gum were found to be free of gelatin. Dental gums are available in most pharmacies. (Web posted 07.14.02 @ 5.45 pm)>> Colgate-Palmolive Canada: (800) 268-6757 | Web: colgate.ca

(July 7, 2002) McDonald's new McVeggie Burger™ in Canada is free of wine and animal ingredients. According to a McDonald's representative, the burgers are cooked on the same grill as other meat products, however, the meat and vegetarian burgers are cooked in separate batches and the grill is cleaned between batches. But McDonald's is quick to point out that during preparation, the McVeggie Burger™ may come in contact with meat and/or chicken products. Also, the new Fruit'n Yogurt Parfait™ at McDonald's Canada contains gelatin, and should be avoided by Muslims. (Web posted 07.07.02 @ 4.05 pm) >> McDonald's Canada: (416) 446-3932 | Web: mcdonalds.ca

(June 30, 2002) eat-halal.com has come to know from a concerned Muslim that Campbell's cream soups contain whey. When asked about the source of the rennet used in the production of the whey, a Campbell's Soup spokesperson said that it was from an animal source. For this reason, Muslims in Canada are advised to avoid Campbell's cream soups. (Web posted 06.30.02 @ 4.27 pm) >> Campbell's Soup Canada: (800) 410-7687 | Web: campbellsoup.ca

(June 23, 2002) eat-halal.com has learned that the dough, sauce, and cheese used in Little Caesars pizzas are Halal. No animal ingredients are used and the dough does not contain L-cysteine. However, please note that we strongly discourage Muslims from eating at non-Muslim restaurants, due to the high risk of contamination by dirty utensils, unwashed hands/gloves, mishandling, and human error. (Web posted 06.23.02 @ 4.27 pm) >> Little Caesars: (800) 7-CAESAR | Web: littlecaesars.com

(June 16, 2002) Burger King Canada has told eat-halal.com that unlike its American counterpart, the Canadian BK Veggie Burger does not contain wine or any other alcohol-related ingredient. However, this is expected to change in the next little while. According to the company, the wine-free BK Veggie Burger sold in Canada will be replaced by the wine-containing BK Veggie Burger within the next couple of months. (Web posted 06.16.02 @ 3.24 pm) >> Burger King Canada: (877) 271 0493>> Burger King US: (305) 378-3535 | Web: burgerking.com

(June 9, 2002) eat-halal.com has learned that Chee-tosCrunchits cheese snack could contain animal rennet and pepsin. As a result, the product should be avoided. Other types of Chee-tos cheese snacks are reportedly free of animal-derived ingredients. According to the information on the manufacturer's web site (www.fritolay.ca), Chee-tos Crunchits are available only in Atlantic Canada. The manufacturer, Hostess Frito-Lay, may be reached at (800) 376-2257.

(June 3, 2002) On April 29, 2002, the Gulf Newsreported that Kellogg's products were recently pulled off the shelves of some supermarkets in the U.A.E. The decision was made after lab tests were done on the products and it was discovered that the products contained pork elements. Kellogg's Canada representatives have reassured eat-halal.com that there are no hidden pork ingredients in their Canadian products. Gelatin from pork and beef is used in some of their products, but its presence is clearly stated in the ingredients declaration. Kellogg's Canada may be contacted at (888) 876-3750.

(May 26, 2002) It has been brought to our attention by a concerned Muslim that the new Doritos brand Extreme Cheddar and Sour Cream tortilla chips contain beef stock. The beef stock is an ingredient in the seasoning which is contained in the product. Since the beef stock is from non-Zabihah animals, the product should be avoided by Muslims. Hostess Frito-Lay, the manufacturer of the product, may be reached at (800) 376-2257.

(May 19, 2002) 241 Pizza has told eat-halal.com that the dough, sauce, and cheese used at the pizza chain are free of animal derived ingredients. The dough reportedly also does not contain any L-cysteine. Please note that we do not recommend that Muslims eat out in non-Muslim eateries, because of the possibility of contamination with Haram ingredients and dirty utensils. 241 Pizza is one of Canada's largest pizza chain with 165 stores, and can be contacted at 1-877-241-0241

(May 12, 2002) eat-halal.com has discovered that some Lactantia brand yogurts contain gelatin. The yogurts are available in different flavours, including plain and various fruit flavours. Some of them contain gelatin while some don't. For this reason, we'd like Muslim shoppers to be careful when purchasing Lactantia yogurts. Gelatin is an odorless, tasteless, protein substance like glue or jelly, obtained by boiling the bones, hoofs, and other waste parts of animals. There is no problem with consuming gelatin if it is from a Halal, Zabihah animal

(May 5, 2002) Molinaro's Fine Italian Food has told eat-halal.com that the L-cysteine in their Famosa pizza crust is from human hair. L-cysteine is an ingredient which is used in bakery products as a dough conditioner. It is made from human hair, chicken/duck feathers and synthetic materials. L-cysteine from human hair is Haram. For this reason, the above mentioned product should be avoided by Muslims. Molinaro's Fine Italian Food may be reached at (800) 268-4959.

(April 28, 2002) On January 27, 2002, eat-halal.com reported that although Krispy Kreme had told us that their doughnuts do not contain any animal ingredients, they wouldn't tell us if the flavourings contained alcohol or not. At the time, our sources told us that it was probable that the flavourings contained alcohol. Now, eat-halal.com has received an e-mail that was sent by Krispy Kreme in response to a question by a concerned Muslim. In the e-mail, Krispy Kreme admits that "most of our flavorings contain alcohol". For this reason, we advise Muslims to avoid Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Krispy Kreme operates 221 stores in the United States, and recently opened its first Canadian location in Mississauga, Ontario. The company may be contacted through its web site at http://www.krispykreme.com.

(April 21, 2002) Pfizer Canada has told eat-halal.com that their Trident, Maxair, Certs, and Clorets brands of gums in Canada are free of animal ingredients. The above-mentioned products are also reportedly free of alcohol-based flavourings. The company also manufactures Bubblicious and Chiclets, but no information was given regarding these products. Pfizer Canada may be contacted at (800) 661-4659.

(April 14, 2002) eat-halal.com would like to warn Muslim consumers about L-cysteine. L-cysteine is an ingredient which is used in bakery products as a dough conditioner. It is often used in pizza crusts, pita breads and in bagels. It is made from human hair, chicken/duck feathers and synthetic materials. L-cysteine from human hair is Haram and must always be avoided. Synthetic and chicken/duck feather L-cysteine is Halal and may be consumed. eat-halal.com has also learned that some Canadian Pizza Hut items contain L-cysteine from duck feathers. Domino's pizza dough also contain L-cysteine, but the source is unknown. Pizza Hut may be contacted at (800) 363-1601 and Domino's may be reached at (888) DOMINOS.

(April 7, 2002) Cadbury Trebor Allan and Hershey Canada have told eat-halal.com that most of their chocolate bars are free of animal ingredients. The only Cadbury Trebor Allan product which contains animal ingredients is Neilson Malted Milk. It contains gelatin and this was reported in our update dated March 17, 2002. All other Cadbury chocolates (including Neilson brand chocolates) are free of animal ingredients and alcohol in flavourings. Some Hershey chocolates in Canada contain gelatin, and this is listed in the ingredients declaration. No other animal ingredients or alcohol-based flavourings are used in Hershey chocolates in Canada. Cadbury Trebor Allen may be reached at (800) 268-1624 and Hershey Canada can be contacted at (800) 468-1714.

(March 31, 2002) eat-halal.com would like to warn Muslim consumers of the fact that many sauces and gravies contain animal ingredients. Many brands of canned, liquid sauces and gravies (such as Hamburger Sauce, Poutine Gravy, Sandwich Sauce, Steak Sauce, etc.) were found to contain ingredients such as chicken broth, chicken fat, beef fat, and so on. Some sauce and gravy mixes were also found to contain these types of ingredients. For this reason, we advise Muslims to pay special attention to the ingredients when buying sauces and gravies.

(March 24, 2002) After contacting Tricon Restaurants International, eat-halal.com has learned that all chickens served at KFC outlets in Muslim countries are Zabihah, and all Pizza Hut pizzas in Muslim markets are Halal. All KFC chickens labeled "certified Halal" in Muslim countries are slaughtered by Muslims by reciting Bismillah-Allah-hu-Akbar during the process. Birds are slaughtered manually and not mechanically. Concerns have been raised in the past regarding KFC chickens in Muslim countries, and hopefully this information will put those concerns to rest. Tricon Restaurants International can be reached at (972) 338-8100.http://www.eat-halal.com/updates/2002.htm

(March 17, 2002) eat-halal.com would like to advise all Muslims of the fact that Neilson Malted Milk contains gelatin, and should therefore be avoided. Gelatin is an odorless, tasteless, protein substance like glue or jelly, obtained by boiling the bones, hoofs, and other waste parts of animals. Gelatin from Haram and non-Zabihah animals should always be avoided by Muslims.

(March 9, 2002) David Chapman's Ice Cream has told eat-halal.com that the flavourings in most of their products contain alcohol. All Chapman's Ice Cream products contain alcohol in their flavourings except for the following products:

Orange Pineapple (2L Square)

Tiger Tail (2L Square)

Grape Nut (2L Square)

Rainbow (2L and 4L Square)

Raspberry Frozen Yogurt (2L Round)

Mixed Berry Frozen Yogurt (2L Round)

Orange Sorbet (2L Round)

For this reason, all Chapman's Ice Cream products, except for the ones listed above, should be avoided by Muslims. Chapman's can be contacted at (519) 986-3131

(February 26, 2002) The Consumer Affairs Administrator at Wrigley Canada has confirmed to eat-halal.com that almost all Wrigley gums sold in Canada are free of animal ingredients. Only ExtraPolar Ice (not to be confused withExcel Polar Ice) contains gelatin and should be avoided. All other Wrigley gums in Canada are free of animal ingredients. Wrigley Canada manufactures many brands (including Juicy Fruit, Big Red, and Freedent) and can be contacted at (416) 449-8600.http://www.eat-halal.com/updates/2002.htm

(February 20, 2002) eat-halal.com would like to alert all Muslims in Canada of the fact that McCain Superquick fries may contain beef tallow. The fries, which are manufactured by McCain Foods (Canada) of Florenceville, New Brunswick, are available at the freezer section of most Canadian supermarkets. The beef tallow used in the fries comes from animals which are not slaughtered according to Islamic Law, and as a result, the product should be avoided by all Muslims. McCain Foods (Canada) can be contacted through http://www.mccain.ca

(February 11, 2002) eat-halal.com was asked to look into Laura Secord ice creams to find out whether or not any alcohol is being used in the flavourings. Laura Secord told eat-halal.com that the flavourings used in their ice creams do not contain any alcohol. Laura Secord has over 100 locations across Canada and can be reached at (800) 268-6353

(January 27, 2002) Krispy Kreme Doughnuts has told eat-halal.com that their doughnuts do not contain any animal ingredients. However, Krispy Kreme wouldn't tell us if the flavourings contained any alcohol or not. Sources have told eat-halal.com that it is probable that the flavourings do contain alcohol. For this reason, we suggest that Krispy Kreme Doughnuts be avoided. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts recently opened its first location in Canada and can be contacted through its web site at http://www.krispykreme.com.

A separate investigation by eathalalfood.blogspot.com revealed that alcohol is infact used during the cooking process, the quantity told to us was around 0.5 or 0.05% very small indeed, but as the saying goes if there a drop of urine in your glass of milk would you drink it? it's less then 0.05% of the entire milk but nonetheless the milk is undrinkable.

(January 19, 2002) Pizza Pizza has informed eat-halal.com that most of their cheeses now contain animal ingredients. The Feta and Parmesan cheeses, along with the X-treme cheese topping, all contain animal ingredients. Feta and Parmesan cheeses are used on the gourmet pizzas. The only cheese which does not contain animal ingredients is the mozzarella cheese. Mozzarella cheese is the only cheese which is used on the cheese pizzas. Pizza Pizza can be contacted at (416) 236-1894

(January 13, 2002) eat-halal.com has discovered that some items at Second Cup may contain gelatin, lard, and other Haram ingredients. We suggest that Muslims avoid eating products at Second Cup for the time being, until we get further information. The investigation continues.

(January 5, 2002) eat-halal.com has learned that the fish in the Filet-o-Fish at McDonald's Canada is now fried in its separate oil. It used to be fried in the same oil in which Chicken McNuggets were fried. Since the McNuggets - which are from chickens that are not slaughtered according to Islamic Law - were fried in the oil, the oil was considered contaminated. But since that is not the case anymore, there seems to be no problem with the fish in the Filet-o-Fish sandwiches. However, the cheese must still be avoided, because it may contain animal ingredients. The Filet-o-Fish may be ordered without the cheese. Please note that we strongly advise that Muslims avoid eating food from non-Muslim restaurants, due to the high risk of contamination by dirty utensils, unwashed hands/gloves, mishandling, and human error. McDonald's Canada may be contacted at (416) 446 3932

(August 4, 2002) An eat-halal.com investigation into No Name english muffins has found that the l-cysteine in the product is from human hair. L-cysteine from human hair is Haram and therefore the product should be avoided. L-cysteine is an ingredient which is used in bakery products as a dough conditioner. It is often used in pizza crusts, pita breads and in bagels. It is made from human hair, feathers (from chickens and ducks) and synthetic materials. Synthetic and chicken/duck feather L-cysteine is Halal and may be consumedloblaw.comhttp://www.eat-halal.com/updates/2002.htm

(August 11, 2002) eat-halal.com recently discovered that Sara Lee cheesecakes contain rennet. When contacted, a Sara Lee spokeperson said that the rennet was from a non-animal source. She also stated that all Kosher certified Sara Lee cheesecakes and layer cakes are free of animal ingredients. The products carry the KVH Kosher symbol (a K, V, and H in a rectangle). Sara Lee cakes are available in the freezer section of most supermarketssaraleebakery.comhttp://www.eat-halal.com/updates/2002.htm

(August 17, 2002) Harvey's has told eat-halal.com that their poutine has two different ingredients: one for Harvey's restaurants in Quebec and one for Harvey's restaurants outside of Quebec. The cheese used in the poutine in sold Quebec contains rennet and its source is currently being investigated. The gravy in the poutine sold outside of Quebec contains beef fat, and should therefore be avoided. Poutine is a French-Canadian concoction comprised of french fries, gravy, and cheese curds

Friday, February 22, 2008

Also known as l-cystine, our research indicates that the source of cysteine is human hair. Cystine is an amino acid needed by humans, which can be produced by the human body. A very small quantity is used in less than 5% of all bread products. Often the hair of third world women is used.

Dietary sources

Although classified as a non-essential amino acid, in rare cases, cysteine may be essential for infants, the elderly, and individuals with certain metabolic disease or who suffer from malabsorptionsyndromes. Cysteine can usually be synthesized by the human body under normal physiological conditions if a sufficient quantity of methionine is available. Cysteine is potentially toxic and is catabolized in the gastrointestinal tract and blood plasma. In contrast, cysteine is absorbed during digestion as cystine, which is more stable in the gastrointestinal tract. Cystine travels safely through the GI tract and blood plasma, and is promptly reduced to the two cysteine molecules upon cell entry.

Industrial sources

At the present time, the cheapest source of material from which food-grade L-cysteine may be purified in high yield is by hydrolysis of human hair. Other sources include feathers and pig bristles. The companies producing cysteine by hydrolysis are located mainly in China. There is some debate as to whether or not consuming L-cysteine derived from human hair constitutes cannibalism. Although many other amino acids were accessible via fermentation for some years, L-cysteine was unavailable until 2001 when German company Wacker Chemie introduced a production route via fermentation (non-human, non-animal origin).

According to the researh by Syed Rasheeduddin Ahmed, 99% of L-Cystine in the US is obtained from HUMAN HAIR. It is used in Pizza crusts, hard rools and crooissants. It is Kosher certified ingredient even if it is from Human hair. It is suggested check the source of L-Cystine even if the product is certified Kosher